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Jury trial cancelled as Lethbridge man pleads guilty to sexual assault, child pornography charges

A jury will no longer be needed, after a Lethbridge man, who was supposed to go to trial over the next ten days on multiple charges, entered a surprise guilty plea on Wednesday (Feb. 19).

Sixteen people were chosen as potential jurors on Tuesday (Feb. 18) to hear evidence in the case against Gary Lippa, 39. Instead, he pleaded guilty to six charges on the second day of his trial. Those charges include making/distributing or publishing child pornography, child luring and sexual assault, according to Global News Lethbridge.

Lippa was supposed to go to trial by judge and jury in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench, and has now re-elected for trial by judge alone.

According to ALERT, Lippa was engaging in explicit conversations with a young girl online in 2017. He then made deceptive arrangements to meet up with the girl, enticed her away from her caregivers and sexually assaulted her.

Lippa will be back in a Lethbridge courtroom on Thursday (Feb. 20), at which time an agreed statement of facts will be entered and a sentencing date is also expected to be set.

Sam Borsato
Sam Borsato
I started my radio career in 2015, shortly after graduating from Lethbridge College. I have a very strong passion for local news. Proudly born in 1994, I grew up most of my life in Sylvan Lake, AB and I've lived in the Lethbridge since 2012. I'm a below average golfer on a good day, I take as many hiking trips to Waterton as possible in the summer and I love my two cats, Outlaw and Jynx, and my dog, Maverick, more than most people I know. I look forward to providing accurate, timely news coverage in southern Alberta for plenty of years to come!
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